Compartmentalized container

ABSTRACT

A compartmentalized container having a series of interlocking and removable partitions to divide the container into a series of compartments. The vertical side edges of each partition fit into grooves in the walls of the container and one horizontal edge of each partition is provided with a series of slots that extend approximately one-half of the height of the partition, and the portions of the partition extending from the end of each slot to the opposite horizontal edge define connecting portions. Each partition is interlocked with at least one normally arranged partition in a manner such that the connecting portions of each partition are received within the slots of the other partition. To provide increased rigidity a pair of ribs are located on each side of the slot and also border each connecting portion.

United States Patent Frater [151 3,656,650 i451 Apr. t8, i972 [54] COMPARTMENTALIZED CONTAINER 2,718,326 9/l955 LeBlanc ..220/22.3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR vAPPLICATIONS 1,308,741 10/1962 France ..220/2l Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Andros, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [571 ABSTRACT A compartmentalized container having a series of interlocking and removable partitions to divide the container into a series of compartments. The vertical side edges of each partition fit into grooves in the walls of the container and one horizontal edge of each partition is provided with a series of slots that extend approximately one-half of the height of the partition, and the portions of the partition extending from the end of each slot to the opposite horizontal edge define connecting portions. Each partition is interlocked with at least one normally arranged partition in a manner such that the connecting portions of each partition are received within the slots of the other partition. To provide increased rigidity a pair of ribs are located on each side of the slot and also border each connectying portion.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATNTEDAPR 18 una INVENTOR. Allen H. Frater Attorneys BY M 1 coMPAnrMENTALlzED CONTAINER This invention relates toa material handling container and more particularly to a container having a series of interlocking and removable partitions.

Containers or tote boxes are utilized in factories or plants for a number of material handling applications. ln some situations where small parts are being handled, such as in the electronic or aviation fields, it is desired to divide a-container into a series of separate compartments through the use of removable dividing partitions.

The present invention is directed to a container having a series of interlocking removable partitions that divides the container into a series of separate compartments. According to the invention the vertical side edges of eachpartition fit within grooves in the walls of the container and one horizontal edge of each partition is provided with a series of parallel slots that extend from that horizontal edge approximately one-half the height of thepartition. The portions of each partition extending from the end of each slot to the opposite horizontal edge define connecting portions, and when the partitions are arranged ina 90 relationship, the connecting portions of one partition are received within the slots of the other partition to interlock partitions. t n

To provide a more effective interlock and to increase the rigidity of the partitions, ribs are located on either side of each slot aswell as on either side of each connecting portion and the ribs extend substantially `the full height of the partition. When interlocked, the edges of onepartition bordering'the slot are held between the ridges bordering the connecting portion of the other partition to provide a secure interlock between the partition as well as providing increased rigidity for the partition in the area of the slot.

The partitions of the invention can be readily inserted and removed from the container to provide a series of separate compartments. The size and shape of the compartments can be readily varied by inserting or removing partitions.

For square containers, the partitions have an identical size and shape, and for rectangular containers, both sets of partitions can also be of identical construction except for the length.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following descriptions.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FlG. l is a perspective view of the container of the invention containing a series of interlocking removable partitions;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container showing the lengagement of the side edges of the partitions with the slots in the walls ofthe container; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section showing tionship of the partitions.

The drawings illustrate a container l, including a pair of side walls 2 and end walls 3 that are connected along their bottom edges by a bottom wall 4. The upper edges of the side walls and end walls are provided with an outwardly extending reinforcing rim 5 or flange. While the drawings show the side walls 2 and end walls 3 to be substantially vertical, it is contemplated that the side walls and end walls can taper downwardly to provide nesting characteristics for the containers. In addition, one or more of the side walls or end walls can be provided with vertically extending corrugations or convolutions which will enable the containers to stack vertically one upon the other.

According to the invention, a series of identically shaped partitions 6 are located within the container l and serve to divide the container into a series of small separate compartments. Both the side walls 2 and end walls 3 are provided with a series of slots or grooves 7 which extend the height of the walls and the side edges of the partitions 6 are received within the interlocking rela- For automatic material handling systems, indicia 8, such as a series of consecutive numbers, can be applied to the rim 5 in alignment with each of the grooves '7 in the side wall 2 and similarly indicia 9, such as letters ofthe alphabet, can be applied to the rim 5 in alignment with the grooves 7 in the end walls 3. The indicia 8 and 9 enable the partitions to be placed at predetermined locations in each container for specific material handling applications.

The partitions 6, as best shown in FIG. 3, are provided with a series of parallel slots l0 that extend from one horizontal edge to a position slightly beyond the mid-point of the height of the partition. Thus, the slots extend slightly more than onehalf of the height of the partition. The portions of each partition 6 extending from the end of each slot 10 to the opposite horizontal edge define connecting portions as indicated by l1. The slots 10 have a width slightly greater than the thickness of the partitions, so that when the partitions are assembled within the container, the connecting portions l1 of one partition will gli: regeived in the slots 10 of the other partition, as shown in To provide a more secure interlock between the partitions, as well as to increase the rigidity ofthe partitions in the area of the slots 10, a series of ribs l2 are fonned in one surface of each partition 6. As best shown in F163, the sections 13 of ribs l2 are spaced outwardly from the side edges of the slot 10 and merge into rib sections 14 which border the connecting portions 1l. The distance between the edge of the slot 10 and the adjacent rib section 13 is slightly greater than the depth of rib section 14 so that rib section 14 will abutt the surface of the partition located between the slot l0 and the rib section 13. ln addition, the spacing between the rib sections 14 is slightly greater than the thickness of the partition, so that one edge of the partition bordering the slot 10 will be received between the rib sections 14.

While the reinforcing ribs 12 are shown only on one surface ofthe partition 6, it is contemplated that similar ribs l2 can be applied to the opposite surface of the partition 6 as well. In addition, the container, while shown to be rectangular, can have any desired configuration. n

The construction of' the partition provides a secure interlocking relationship between the partitions and at the same time developsrigidity in the thin wall partition bordering the slot which will hold the partitions in the desired configuration within the container.

The partitions which extend between the side walls 2 are identical in configuration to the partitions which extend between the end'walls 3 except for a difference in length. lf the container, instead of having a rectangular shape, was square, the partitions could all be of identical configuration.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims par ticularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A compartmentalized container, comprising a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls, a bottom wall connecting the lower edges of the first walls and the second walls, a fust partition extending between said first walls, a second partition extending between said second walls, each partition having a pair of opposed side edges and having a pair of opposed second edges extending between the side edges, each partition being provided with a slot extending generally parallel to said side edges from one of said second edges toward the other second edge, and each said partition having a connecting por tion extending from the end of the slot to said other second the grooves to position the partitions within the container. The

edge, said connecting portion of said first partition being received within the slot of the second partition to provide an interlocking relationship for the partitions, and reinforcing means including a pair of fust ribs bordering the slot and a pair of second ribs bordering said connecting portion, the spacing between the ribs of one of said pairs being greater than the total of the thickness of the partition and the depth of a rib of the other of said pairs.

2. The container of claim l, wherein the slot extends a distance slightly greater than one-half the distance between said second edges.

3. The container of` claim l, and including connecting means for connecting the side edges of said first partition to said first walls.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a groove in each of said first walls, said grooves being aligned and disposed to receive the side edges ofthe first partition.

5. The container of claim l, wherein each first rib is connected to a second rib to provide a rib structure that extends substantially continuously between said second edges.

6. A compartmentalized container, comprising a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls, a bottom wall connecting the lower edges of the first walls and the second walls, a first partition extending between said first walls, a second partition extending between said second walls, each partition having a pair of opposed side edges and having a pair of opposed second edges extending between the side edges, each partition being provided with a slot extending generally parallel to said side edges from one of said second edges toward the other second edge, and each said partition having a connecting portion extending from the end of` the slot to said other second edge, said connecting portion of said first partition being received within the slot of the second partition to provide an interlocking relationship for the partitions, and reinforcing means including a pair of first ribs bordering the slot and a pair of second ribs bordering said connecting portion, the spacing between said first ribs is greater than the total of the thickness of the partition and the depth of the second ribs, whereby the second ribs of one partition abut opposite surfaces of the other partition at locations adjacent the slot of said other partitions.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the spacing between said second ribs is greater than the thickness of said partition.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein the spacing between the first ribs is greater than the spacing between the second ribs. 

1. A compartmentalized container, comprising a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls, a bottom wall connecting the lower edges of the first walls and the second walls, a first partition extending between said first walls, a second partition extending between said second walls, each partition having a pair of opposed side edges and having a pair of opposed second edges extending between the side edges, each partition being provided with a slot extending generally parallel to said side edges from one of said second edges toward the other second edge, and each said partition having a connecting portion extending from the end of the slot to said other second edge, said connecting portion of said first partition being received within the slot of the second partition to provide an interlocking relationship for the partitions, and reinforcing means including a pair of first ribs bordering the slot and a pair of second ribs bordering said connecting portion, the spacing between the ribs of one of said pairs being greater than the total of the thickness of the partition and the depth of a rib of the other of said pairs.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the slot extends a distance slightly greater than one-half the distance between said second edges.
 3. The container of claim 1, and including connecting means for connecting the side edges of said first partition to said first walls.
 4. The container of claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a groove in each of said first walls, said grooves being aligned and disposed to receive the side edges of the first partition.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein each first rib is connected to a second rib to provide a rib structure that extends substantially continuously between said second edges.
 6. A compartmentalized container, comprising a pair of first walls, a pair of second walls, a bottom wall connecting the lower edges of the first walls and the second walls, a first partition extending between said first walls, a second partition extending between said second walls, each partition having a pair of opposed side edges and having a pair of opposed second edges extending between the side edges, each partition being provided with a slot extending generally parallel to said side edges from one of said second edges toward the other second edge, and each said partition having a connecting portion extending from the end of the slot to said other second edge, said connecting portion of said first partition being received within the slot of the second partition to provide an interlocking relationship for the partitions, and reinforcing means including a pair of first ribs bordering the slot and a pair of second ribs bordering said connecting portion, the spacing between said first ribs is greater than the total of the thickness of the partition and the depth of the second ribs, whereby the second ribs of one partition abut opposite surfaces of the other partition at locations adjacent the slot of said other partitions.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the spacing between said second ribs is greater than the thickness of said partition.
 8. The container of claim 6, wherein the spacing between the first ribs is greater than the spacing between the second ribs. 